Since we offer multiple horse programs for youth, we want to emphasize that mentorship is not the same as an internship. Mentoring is a structured and trusting relationship that brings young people (“mentees”) together with experienced industry professionals (“mentors”) who offer guidance, support, and encouragement aimed at developing their journey into the Thoroughbred horse industry. Mentors counsel mentees on their career goals, direction, and steps toward achievement. An internship, on the other hand, is a learning-focused hands-on work experience but is generally transactional in the sense that the employer benefits from the intern's work. An intern might receive compensation in the form of school credit or payment. 

Amplify Horse Racing’s insurance policy covers matches through the duration the program as a conversational and observation-based learning experience. Mentors who hire their mentees to intern or work for during the mentorship program automatically assume the liability of a working experience.

HOW ARE MENTORS AND MENTEES PAIRED?

Mentorship pairings are made based on perceived compatibility between a mentee’s areas of interest in the Thoroughbred horse industry and their mentor’s career field. Compatibility of schedules and geographic proximity are also taken into account. Meetings can take place virtually or in person.

PROGRAM TIMELINE

The Amplify Horse Racing Mentorship Program is three months long – however, mentor-mentee pairs are encouraged to build a working relationship and continue meeting and communicating beyond the three months of the program if they wish to do so. 

Here’s how it works:

• There are two separate sessions of the program, with mentorships taking place in the spring (March-May) and in the fall (August-October).

• While mentees can apply for the program in January or June, mentors can fill out an interest form at any time of the year.

• Mentees must apply, be interviewed, and get accepted.

• Mentors must also apply and pass a background check.

• Amplify provides an email introduction between mentors and mentees and schedules a face-to-face introduction over Zoom. Amplify also provides training materials and resources to guide conversations.

• After the Zoom introduction, mentors and mentees schedule their own meetings and determine the most convenient communication and meeting methods.

• Pairs must meet for a minimum of one hour per month for three months, and spend additional time communicating between meetings.

• Mentors and mentees each complete a final survey.